PURPOSE: Cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) is known to be associated with ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), and cognitive impairment. In this retrospective observational study, we explored SVD markers on MRI relevant to spontaneous ICH. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The ICH group consisted of 150 consecutive patients with a first primary parenchymal ICH, and the control group consisted of 271 age- and sex-matched individuals who underwent brain MRI in a health care center. We compared cerebral microbleeds (CMBs), white matter hyperintensities (WMHs), enlarged perivascular space (EPVS), and lacunae in the ICH and control groups. RESULTS: A total of 1278 CMB lesions were identified in 121 of the 150 patients in the ICH group (80.6%), while 77 CMB lesions were found in 32 of the 271 individuals in the control group (11.8%). WMH and EPVS were more severe and lacunae were more frequent in the ICH patients than in the control group. When receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted, number of CMBs most significantly predicted ICH. All imaging markers were significantly associated with ICH in every age group. The location of CMBs coincided with the location of ICH, and ICH volume correlated with CMB count. CONCLUSION: All MRI markers for SVD were worse in ICH patients than in healthy controls, and these markers were prominent even in young ICH patients. Lacunae, WMH, EPVS, and CMB should be considered as factors related with spontaneous ICH.
Brain ; Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; Cerebral Small Vessel Diseases ; Cognition Disorders ; Delivery of Health Care ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Intracranial Hemorrhages ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Observational Study ; Retrospective Studies ; ROC Curve ; Stroke ; White Matter

Midtrimester genetic amniocentesis has been a gold standard for prenatal diagnosis in antenatal care since last 25 years. After the triple serum marker test was introduced as a prenatal screening method for Down syndrome, the frequency of genetic amniocentesis was increased. OBJECTIVE: To determine the complication, risk of amniocentesis and detection rate of chromosomal abnormality. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective clinical analysis of 1,064 midtrimester genetic amnicentesis in IL Sin Christian Hospital antenatal clinic from Jan 1995 to Dec 1997. Chi square test was used for the statistical analysis and p value < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Amnicentesis were significantly increased in the age of 35-39 yrs and 40yrs over. And also the incidence of chromosomal abnormality was higher than younger age group. The indications of amnicentesis were screen positive of triple marker test(43%), advanced maternal age(20.8%), abnormal beta-hCG level, past history of chromosome abnormality or malformed baby and abnormal alpha-FP level in order. Total number of chromosomal abnormalities was 30 and the incidence of chromosomal abnormalities was 2.8%(30/1,064). The complications were developed in 13 cases and fetal loss rate was 0.78%(9/1,064). CONCLUSION: The detection rate of chromosomal abnormality in midtrimester amnicentesis for prenatal diagnosis was high and relatively safe procedure but, we should be attention to more careful manipulation.
Amniocentesis ; Biomarkers ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Down Syndrome ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second* ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the rate of and factors associated with influenza vaccination in Korean elderly people. METHODS: For this retrospective cross-sectional study, we used data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2008. A total of 1,516 men and women aged 65 or above were included. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression. RESULTS: The overall rate of influenza vaccination in 2008 was 73.6%. The vaccination rate was lower in women (73.2%) than in men (74.2%; p<.001). It was lower in the elderly aged 80 and above, those living in metropolitan areas, smokers, those who did not receive regular health screening, those who had no history of hospitalization within one year, and those who had liver diseases than in the other groups. The rate of vaccination was higher in those with cancer. Logistic regression analysis revealed that for both men and women, the significant correlates associated with vaccination were demographic factors, chronic disease and health behavior. CONCLUSION: The influenza vaccination coverage needs to be improved. Efforts should be made to reach the elderly population with relatively low influenza vaccination rates and to increase awareness about the importance of vaccination at a personal and community level.
Aged* ; Chronic Disease ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Demography ; Female ; Health Behavior ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Influenza, Human* ; Liver Diseases ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Nutrition Surveys ; Retrospective Studies ; Vaccination*

MR imaging of the brain in 34 patients were reviewed to characterize the MR findings of brain damage due to perinatal hypoxic insult All the patients had a history of perinatal hypoxia and showed abnormal brain MR findings. Out of 34, eight infants were born premature and twenty-six were born at term or post-term. MR findings were analysed for the extent and location of abnormalities of the white matter, cortical abnormality. Corpus callosum atrophy, and abnormal progression of myelination. The major abnormalities were abnormal signal lesions or atrophy of the cerebral white matter and gyral atrophy of the cerebral cortex. The distribution of white matter lesions well correlated with maturity of the brain at the time of hypoxic insult. Periventricular and deep white matter lesions predominated in the premature-born patients. Corpus callosum atrophy was frequently seen. Reflecting the location of white matter injury. Delay in myelination was present in 55%. MR is a very useful diagnostic imaging modality and guide for the prediction of prognosis by accurate depiction of the location and extent of brain damage due to perinatal hypoxic insult.
Anoxia* ; Atrophy ; Brain* ; Cerebral Cortex ; Corpus Callosum ; Diagnostic Imaging ; Humans ; Infant ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Myelin Sheath ; Prognosis ; White Matter

No abstract available.
Mass Screening*

PURPOSE: A Phenomenological study was conducted to investigate the experiences of infertile women who had an unsuccessful in vitro fertilization (IVF) attempt and the structure of these experiences was identified in a socio-cultural context. METHOD: In-depth interviews were done with five participants from Nov. 1997 to Feb. 1998. Data was recorded and analyzed by Colazzi's method. RESULT: Significant statements were extracted from the data resulting in 4 themes and 11 concepts. The concepts were: 'lack of information', 'unable to anticipate the outcome', 'reaffirmation of need', 'financial strain', 'emotional suppression', 'change of social relationships', 'physical fatigue', 'blaming oneself or God', 'trying different ways', 'famous place shopping', and 'praying to God'. The significant themes of the participants' experiences with IVF emerged as: "uncertainty", "burden", "blaming" and "vigorous desire". CONCLUSION: The results indicate that the care of infertile women with an unsuccessful IVF attempt should be based on a deep understanding of their personal experiences. Also, information on alternative choices should be offered and supported.
Female ; Fertilization in Vitro* ; Humans ; Infertility ; Life Change Events

PURPOSE: Nursing research is recognized as an essential basis for the continuous development of the scientific nursing knowledge and practice. An understanding of the barriers and attitudes to research among nurses is important to improve clinical nursing research activities. METHOD: Data were collected from nurses at a general hospital, located in D city, using a self-reported questionnaire, from March 15th to April 4th, 2003, and 133 questionnaires were used for the analyses. A 5 pointscale instrument was used to measure barriers and attitudes towards nursing research, with a Cronbach's alpha of .85 and .89, respectively. RESULTS: Nurses had limited experience in research and were not well prepared to conduct it. Lack of experience, training and time were the major barriers for conducting research. However, the nurses had positive attitudes toward research. There was a difference in barriers (t=2.68, p=.02) and research attitudes (t=-2.74, p=.00) according to the nurses' position. Also, the nurses' research experience influenced research attitudes (t=-3.27, p=.00). The degree of research preparation (F=6.98, p=.00) had an effect on the attitudes toward nursing research but not on the barriers. CONCLUSION: There is an urgent need to promote both the ability and environment for clinical nurses to actively participate in research. As the majority of nurses had little experience and low confidence in research and perceived many barriers, this promotion can be accomplished by enhancing their confidence in research through continuing education and by gradually eliminating the barriers to research.
Nursing Staff, Hospital/*psychology ; *Nursing Research ; Korea ; Humans ; Female ; *Attitude of Health Personnel ; Analysis of Variance

OBJECTIVE: The accuracy of analytical results of blood and urine heavy metals came out to the main issue on occupational health from late eighties. The discrepancy of the results for same samples from different laboratories made the diagnosis for occupational diseases be unreliable. Therefore, a quality control program for analysis of samples taken from workplace had been introduced in Korea since 1992. This study aims to show the quality control program f'or analysis of blood and urine samples and its proficient rates from 1992 to 1999 and to know how they have been being used in occupational health. METHODS: The quality control program runs twice a year with mandatory items of blood lead and urine hippuvic acid and voluntary items of blood cadmium and manganese and urine mandellic acid and methyl hippuric acid. Participant laboratories are receiving three levels for each items and two out of three samples have to be qualified for being a proficient laboratory for the item. The acceptable range of blood lead and urine hippuric acid is +/-15% and that of the others is within 3 SD(standard deviation) from the reference values. RESULTS: The proficient rates of blood lead and urine hippuric acid was 89%, 90%, repectively, however those of the other voluntary items have been from 51% to 62%. The proficient rates of urine mercury and urine N-methylformamide(NMF), which are introduced since 1999, were very poor. Urine hippuric acid and blood lead were analyzed frequently for the purpose of biological monitoring conducting by special health examination organizations. Urine and blood manganese and urine metabolites of trichloroethylene, urine phenol, methylhippuric acid and cadmium were followed. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the quality control program for biological monitoring has dramatically improve the ability of analysing blood and urine samples and eventually contributes to diagnose occupational diseases and to prevent occupational poisoning. However, some biological monitoring data, such as urine manganese, mercury and NMF, have been still reported from laboratories that were not accepted as a proficient laboratory.
Cadmium ; Diagnosis ; Environmental Monitoring ; Korea ; Manganese ; Metals, Heavy ; Occupational Diseases ; Occupational Health ; Phenol ; Poisoning ; Quality Control ; Reference Values ; Trichloroethylene

Chordoma arising from the notochordal remnants is a rare primary bone tumor in the cervicosacral region and is even more unusual in the thoracic region. The authors experienced a case of thoracic chordoma and report its CT and MR findings.
Chordoma* ; Notochord

Chordoma arising from the notochordal remnants is a rare primary bone tumor in the cervicosacral region and is even more unusual in the thoracic region. The authors experienced a case of thoracic chordoma and report its CT and MR findings.
Chordoma* ; Notochord